Package construction and core and method for making the same or the like



Aug. 18, 1964 s. SHULTZ I 3,144,934

R. PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION AND CORE AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME OR THE LIKE Filed July 25, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR RICHARD S. SHULTZ Hi5 ATTORNEYS Aug. 18, 1964 R. s. SHULTZ 3,144,934

PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION AND CORE AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME OR THE LIKE Filed July 25, 1961 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR RICHARD S. SHULTZ HIS ATTORNEYS PAEKAGE CGNSTRUETEGN AND CORE AND METHUD EUR MAKING THE SAME GR THE LHKE Richard S. Shuitz, Henrico County, Va, assignor to Reynolds Metais Company, Richmond, Va, 21 corporation of Detaware Filed duty 25, 1961, her. No. 126,691 15 Ciaims. (Cl. Edd- 51i) This invention relates to an improved package construction and to an improved method for making the same or the like. This invention also relates to an improved core element for making such a package con struction or the like and to an improved blank for making such a core element or the like.

Heretofore, sheets or strips of gift wrapping paper, foil and the like have normally been packaged by winding the same on a cylindrical paperboard tube or the like whereby the subsequently wound coils are covered with transparent covering material and merchandized in roll form.

However, not only is it difficult to adequately and attractively arrange such rolls of wrapping material on shelves and the like for display purposes, but also the cylindrical rolls of wrapping material do not effectively display the decorative patterns thereof.

Further, the cylindrical rolls of wrapping material require large amounts of shipping and storage space for the actual amount of wrapping material provided thereby.

Accordingly, it is one of the purposes of this invention to provide an improved package construction for such wrapping material or the like whereby the coil of Wrapping material is adapted to be formed into a substantially flattened condition to not only require less shipping and storing space than the prior known cylindrical rolls but to also better lend itself to stacking for display purposes and to provide a greater flat exposed surface for effectively displaying the decorative pattern of the wrapping material.

One embodiment of this invention for forming such an improved flattened package construction includes a core element that is adapted to be collapsed into a compact structure and easily inserted into a cylindrical roll of the wrapping material. Thereafter, the cylindrical coil of wrapping material is flattened causing the core element to expand into a flattened position thereof and place the flattened coil of wrapping material under tension whereby the flattened wrapping material is tightly drawn around the expanded and flattened core element to provide an attractive package construction having the aforementioned features.

The core element is so constructed and arranged that the flattened coil of wrapping paper is not creased to an adverse degree in a manner hereinafter described.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved package construction having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method for making such a package construction or the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved core element for making such a package construction or the like.

EJ445334 Patented Aug. 18, 1964 Another object of this invention is to provide an imploved blank for forming such a core element or the li e.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view illustrating one of the flattened package constructions of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates the package construction in its unflattened condition.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of an improved blank of this invention for forming a core element of this invenion.

FIGURE 4 is an end view of a core element of this invention formed from the blank of FIGURE 3 and disposed intermediate its collapsed and expanded positions.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 and illustrates another embodiment of the core element of this invention.

FiGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 and illustrates still another embodiment of the core element of this invention.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 and illustrates the core element of FIGURE 4 in its fully expanded position by full lines and in its fully collapsed position by dotted lines.

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 and illustrates the core element of FIGURE 6 in its fully expanded and fully collapsed positions.

FIGURE 9 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating one of the methods of this invention for forming the package construction of FIGURE 1.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adapted for forming a package construction for gift wrapping paper, foil and the like, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention are readily applicable'for packaging other types of goods, as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments thereof illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, an improved package construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral It? and comprises a substantially flattened coil 11 of gift wrapping paper, foil, and the like having a central opening 12 passing therethrough and receiving a collapsible and expandable core element 13 of this invention, the package construction it) having a suitable transparent overwrap disposed about the exterior surface of the coil 11, if desired, in a manner hereinafter described.

The package construction 16 can be formed by the method illustrated in FIGURE 9 wherein a suitable soft coil 11 of gift wrapping paper, foil and the like is formed in the conventional manner into a substantially cylindrical configuration having an opening 12 passing therethrough by winding a strip of the desired wrapping material on itself, the opening 12 having a'substantially circular cross-sectional configuration.

Thereafter, the core element 13 of this invention, formed in a manner hereinafter described, is disposed in its fully collapsed position as illustrated in FIGURE 9 whereby the collapsed core element 13 can be easily and loosely inserted into the opening 12 of the coil 11 of wrapping material in the manner illustrated in FllGURE 2, the core element 13 preferably extending to both opposed ends of the coil 11 in the manner illustrated.

While the core elements 13 and coils 11 of wrapping material can have any desired dimensions, the wrapping material is normally merchandized in twenty-four to thirtysix inch widths.

After the core element 13 has been fully disposed in the opening 12 of the coil 11, the coil 11 is substantially flattened in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8 by any suitable machinery or by hand whereby the core element 13 is flattened therewith and moves to its fully expanded condition. As the core element 13 is moved to its expanded position, the expanding core element 13 tends to spread the coil 11 in the directions indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 9 to place the coil 11 under tension so that the coil 11 is tightly drawn or wrapped around the expanded core 13 when the coil 11 is in its flattened pos tion as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The core element 13 not only holds the coil 11 of wrapping material in its flattened condition, but also provides structural strength for the package construction 11 If desired, the flattened coil 11 and core element 13 can be subsequently covered by a suitable transparent overwrap 14, FIGURE 9, in a manner well known in the art to complete the package construction 1 h of this invention whereby total visibility of the product is attained.

Therefore, it can be seen that the coil 11 of gift wrapping paper, foil and the like can be formed into the conventional cylindrical configuration by existing equipment and be subsequently utilized with the core element 13 of this invention to provide a substantially flattened package construction 10 whereby the flattened package construction 10 is not only better adapted for stacking and the like than the conventional rolls of wrapping material but also the flattened package construction 10 better displays the pattern of the wrapping material as a larger flattened surface area thereof is exposed to the consumer and the package construction 10 requires less storage and shipping space than the prior known roll constructions.

Further, the core element 13 of this invention expands when the same is flattened whereby the coil 11 of wrapping material is placed under tension to eliminate any wringles therein should the cylindrical coil 11 be originally loosely formed. Thus, a more attractive package of wrapping material is provided by this invention than the prior known roll constructions.

The particular details of the core elements 13 of this invention will now be described.

As illustrated in FIGURE 3, an improved blank of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 15 and comprises a substantially rectangular structure formed from paperboard or any other suitable bendable or flexible material.

The blank 15 has a medial section or wall 16 foldably connected to opposed end portions 17 of the blank 15 by a pair of spaced and parallel score or fold lines 18.

Each end portion 17 has a terminal end section or Wall 19 interconnected to the respective end portion 17 by a score or a fold line 20, the score or fold lines 20 being equally spaced from the adjacent score or fold lines 18.

In the embodiment of the blank 15 and core element 13 illustrated in the drawings, the combined widths of the walls 19 is greater than the width of the medial wall 16 for a purpose hereinafter described and the width of the right hand wall 19 of the blank 15 is greater than the width of the left hand wall 19 thereof.

Each end section or wall 19 is adapted to be subsequently secured to the medial Wall 16 of the blank 15 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4 with the respective fold line 21) thereof disposed adjacent to the respective fold line 18 of the medial Wall 16 whereby the core 4 element comprises a pair of opposed tubular end portions 21 interconnected to a central flat web portion 22 in the manner illustrated in FlGURE 4.

The tubular end portions 21 of the core element 13 are adapted to be collapsible and expandable because each end portion 1'7 of the blank 15 is provided with a pair of spaced and parallel score or fold lines 25 equally spaced from the respective fold lines 18 and 20 to define substantially identical walls 24 of the blank 15 whereby the fold lines 23 of each end portion 17 are disposed opposite to each other in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4 when the blank 15 is formed into the core element 13 of this invention.

In order to form the core element 13 of FIGURE 4, each end portion 17 of the blank 15 is provided with a pair of spaced and parallel score or fold lines 25 equally spaced between the score lines 23 thereof to define a wall 26 intermediate the score or fold lines 25 and to define a pair of substantially identical walls 27 intermediate the score or fold lines 23 and 25.

When the blank 15 is folded to form the core element 13, the larger right hand end section 19 thereof is suitably secured to the medial wall 16 of the blank by adhesive or the like and the shorter left hand end section 1% overlaps the larger end section 19 and is secured thereto by adhesive or the like in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4, the score or fold lines 20 of the end sections 19 being respectively disposed adjacent the score or fold lines 18 of the medial Wall 16.

While only the overlapping portion of the left hand end section 19 is illustrated as being secured to the right hand end section 19, it is to be understood that the nonoverlapping portion of the left hand end section 19 could be secured by adhesive or the like to the mating portion of the medial wall 16, if desired.

In addition, the end section 19 of the blank 15 can be so constructed and arranged that one of the end sections 19 can be fully superimposed on the medial wall 16 and the other end section 19 can be fully superimposed on the first end section 19.

Alternately, the end sections 19 of the blank 15 can be so constructed and arranged that the same are substantially identical and are adapted to abut each other when respectively disposed and secured on adjacent halves of the medial wall 16 of the blank 15 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5 to form a core element 13a of this invention, the core element 13a being formed in substantially the same manner as the core element 13 of FIGURE 4 and like parts thereof are designated with like reference numerals followed by the reference letters a.

If desired, the end portions 17 of the blank 15 need not be provided with the fold or score lines 25 whereby another core element 13b, FIGURE 6, of this invention would be provided by the modified blank 15, each tubular end portion 21b of the core element 13]) comprising a pair of Walls 24b interconnected at one end thereof to the central web portion 22b and to an unscored wall 28 at the other ends thereof.

The remaining structure of the core element 13b is substantially identical to the core element 13 whereby like parts are designated with like reference numerals followed by the reference letters b.

Since the core elements 13 and 13a function in substantially the same manner, only the operation of the core element 13 will be described and reference is made to FIGURE 7 wherein the core element 13 is illustrated in its fully collapsed position by dotted lines and in its fully expanded condition by full lines.

Similarly, reference is made to FIGURE 8 wherein the core element 13b is illustrated in its fully collapsed POSltiOIl by dotted lines and in its fully expanded condition by full lines.

The core element 13 is collapsed into the substantially H-shaped configuration illustrated in FIGURE 2 by pushing the end walls 26 thereof toward the central web portion thereof whereby the end wall 26 of each tubular end portion 21 is disposed in the same plane as the planes of the walls 24 and the collapsed tubular end portion 21 has a substantially triangular cross-sectional configuration as illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURES 7 and in full lines in FIGURE 2.

The core element 13b is normally disposed in its fully collapsed position because the end walls 28 thereof tend to remain flat and unbent as illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE 8 whereby the collapsed tubular end portions 21b of the core element 13b have substantially triangular cross-sectional configurations in a manner substantially identical to the collapsed tubular end portions 21 of the core element 13.

As illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8, the collapsed core elements 13 and 13b define substantially H-shaped configurations about which substantially square perimeters 29 and 2% can be disposed.

Similarly, circles and 30b can be respectively described about the collapsed core elements 13 and 13b.

When the collapsed tubular end portions 21 and 21b of the core elements 13 and 1311 are subsequently flattened as illustrated in full lines in FIGURES 7 and 8, the tubular end portions 21 and 21b expand into substantially pentagonal configurations whereby relatively long and narrow rectangles 31 and 3112 can be described around the flattened and expanded core elements 13 and 13b as illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8.

Because of the geometry of the core elements 13 and 13b, the lengths of the circles 3&9 and 3&1) describing the collapsed core elements 13 and 1315 are substantially smaller than the lengths around the rectangles 31 and 31b defined when the core elements 13 and 1312 are fiattened and expanded.

Therefore, it can be seen that the cylindrical coil 11 of gift wrapping paper, foil and the like can be so constructed and arranged that the opening 12 thereof loosely receives the collapsed core element 13 or 131) so that no interference is created between the coil 11 and the collapsed core element 13 or 13b when the same is being inserted in the opening 12 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 8.

However, when the coil 11 is subsequently flattened, the core element 13 or 131) is flattened therewith and expands outwardly whereby the end Walls 26 or 23 thereof push outwardly against the internal peripheral surface of the coil 11 to place the coil 11 under tension whereby the coil Ill is tightly drawn about the flattened core element 13 or 1311.

In this manner, the cylindrical coil ill of wrapping material can be loosely formed into a cylindrical configuration and when flattened to expand the core element 13 or 1311, the core element 13 causes the coil ill to be tightly drawn around the same so that an attractive package construction llll is provided.

It has been found that the end walls 26 of the expanded core element 13 do not readily crease the coil 11 at the fold lines 24 to an adverse degree so that the wrapping material subsequently removed from the coil 11 by the consumer does not have any crease lines formed therein.

It has also been found that the core element 13b of this invention does not crease the coil 11 of flattened wrapping material because the unscored walls 28 thereof, when collapsed in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8, define substantially arcuate end wall portions 32 around which the coil 11 of wrapping paper is smoothly bent.

While the method of forming the package construction It) has been described and illustrated as having the coil 11 of wrapping material pre-formed before the collapsed core element 13 of this invention is inserted in the opening 12 thereof, it is to be understood that the coil 11 of wrapping material can be formed around the collapsed core element 13 by loosely winding a strip of wrapping material directly onto the collapsed core element 13.

Thereafter, the coil 11 and core element 13 can be collapsed in the above manner to provide the package construction 10.

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention provides an improved collapsible and expandable core element as well as an improved blank for forming such a core element or the like.

Also, this invention provides an improved package construction for wrapping paper, foil and the like and an improved method for making such a package construction or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A core element having a central portion and a pair of opposed end portions respectively connected to said central portion, said end portions being collapsible to define a substantially H-shaped configuration with said central portion and being expandable to define a substantially flat and elongated structure with said central portion.

2. A core element having a central portion and a pair of opposed tubular end portions respectively connected to said central portion, said end portions being collapsible to define a substantially H-shaped configuration with said central portion and being expandable to define a substantially flat and elongated structure with said central portion.

3. A core element having a central web portion and a pair of opposed tubular end portions respectively connected to said central web portion, said end portions each having a pair of opposed fold lines to permit said end portions to be collapsed and define a substantially H- shaped configuration with said central web portion and to be substantially flattened and elongated to define a substantially flat and. elongated structure with said central web portion.

4-. A core element having a central web portion and a pair of opposed tubular end portions respectively connected to said central web portion, said end portions being collapsible to define a substantially square perimeter about said core element and being expandable to define a substantially long and narrow rectangular perimeter about said core element having a length longer than the length of said square perimeter.

5. A core element as set forth in claim 4 wherein the short legs of said rectangular perimeter are arcuate.

6. A core element having a central web portion and a pair of opposed tubular end portions respectively connected to said central web portion, said end portions being collapsible to define substantially triangular structures having the apexes thereof connected to said central web portion, and the bases thereof disposed a first predetermined distance from said central web porsion, said end portions being expandable to define substantially pentagonal structures having the apexes thereof connected to said central Web portion and the bases thereof disposed a second predetermined distance from said central web portion, said second predetermined distance being longer than said first predetermined distance.

7. A core element as set forth in claim 6 wherein said bases of said expanded tubular end portions are substantially arcuate.

8. A package construction comprising a coil of sheet material having a central opening passing therethrough, and a core element disposed in said opening of said coil, said core element having a central portion and a pair of opposed tubular end portions connected to said central portion, said tubular end portions being collapsible to define a substantially H-shaped structure with said central portion that is loosely disposed in said coil when said coil is substantially cylindrical, said tubular end portions being expandable to define a substantially fiat and elongated structure with said central portion that is tightly disposed in said coil and places the same under tension when said coil is substantially flattened.

9. A package construction comprising a coil of sheet material having a central Opening passing therethrough, and a core element disposed in said opening of said coil, said core element having a central portion and a pair of tubular end portions connected to said central portion, said tubular end portions being collapsible to define a substantially square perimeter about said core element that is loosely disposed in said coil when said coil is substantially cylindrical, said tubular end portions being expandable to define a substantially long and narrow rectangular perimeter about said core element that is tightly disposed in said coil and places the same under tension when said coil is substantially flattened.

10. A package construction as set forth in claim 9 wherein said short legs of said rectangular perimeter are substantially arcuate.

11. A method for packing sheet material comprising the steps of providing a cylindrical coil of said sheet material having a collapsed core disposed in the opening of said coil, and thereafter flattening said coil to cause said core to expand and place said sheet material under tension,

12. A method for packaging sheet material comprising the steps of winding a strip of sheet material into a cylindrical coil havin g'an'opening passing therethrough, collapsing acore member, inserting the collapsed core member into said opening of said coil, flattening said coil to cause said core member to expand and place said sheet material under tension, and, thereafter, securing a wrapper around said flattened coil and core.

13. A core element having a central Web portion and a pair of opposed tubular end portions respectively connected to said central Web portion, said end portions being collapsible to define a substantially square perimeter about said core element and being expandable to define a substantially long and narrow rectangular perimeter about said core element having a length longer than the length of said square perimeter, the short legs of said rectangular perimeter being straight.

14. A core element having a central Web portion and a pair of opposed tubular end portions respectively connected to said central portion, said end portions being collapsible to define substantially triangular structures having the apexes thereof connected to said central Web portion, and the bases thereof disposed at first predetermined distance from said central Web portion, said end portions being expandable to define substantially pentagonal structures having the apexes thereof connected to said central Web portion and the bases thereof disposed a second predetermined distance from said central web portion, said second predetermined distance being longer than said first predetermined distance, said bases of said expanded tubular end portions being substantially straight.

15. A package construction comprising a coil of sheet material having a central opening passing therethrough, and a core element disposed in said opening of said coil, said core element having a central portion and a pair of tubular end portions connected to said central portion, said tubular end portions being collapsible to define a substantially square perimeter about said core element that is loosely disposed in said coil when said coil is substantially cylindrical, said tubular end portions being expandable to define a substantially long and narrow rectangular perimeter about said core element that is tightly disposed in said coil and places the same under tension when said core is substantially flattened, the short legs of said rectangular perimeter being substantially straight.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,005,787 Sibley Oct. 10, 1911 1,192,594 Woodrutf July 25, 1916 1,650,051 Smith Nov. 22, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS 495,292 Great Britain Nov. 10, 1933 

13. A CORE ELEMENT HAVING A CENTRAL WEB PORTION AND A PAIR OF OPPOSED TUBULAR END PORTIONS RESPECTIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID CENTRAL WEB PORTION, SAID END PORTIONS BEING COLLAPSIBLE TO DEFINE A SUBSTANTIALLY SQUARE PERIMETER ABOUT SAID CORE ELEMENT AND BEING EXPANDABLE TO DEFINE A SUBSTANTIALLY LONG AND NARROW RECTANGULAR PERIMETER ABOUT SAID CORE ELEMENT HAVING A LENGTH LONGER THAN THE LENGTH OF SAID SQUARE PERIMETER, THE SHORT LEGS OF SAID RECTANGULAR PERIMETER BEING STRAIGHT. 